Rockets Advance to West Finals Behind Career Games from CP3, Tucker

posted by Ben DuBose -

May 9, 2018

Chris Paul (41/10) andP.J. Tucker (19/6) each set playoff career-highs in scoring as the Rockets held off the Utah Jazz in Game 5 with a 112-102 victory. With the win, Houston secured its first trip to the Western Conference Finals since 2015.

James Harden(18 points, 7-of-22 FG) had an inefficient game and was described afterward as “under the weather,” but the Rockets still had enough to secure the series behind Paul,Tucker, and another elite night of rim protection from Clint Capela(11 blocks in his last two games).

The Jazz had a 78-75 lead going to the fourth quarter after a ridiculous third quarter from rookie Donovan Mitchell, who scored 22 in the period and directly contributed on 29 of Utah’s 32 points. But the 33-year-oldPaul nearly matched him with 20 in the fourth quarter, helping the nine-time All-Star secure the first conference finals appearance of his storied career. Our postgame show breaks down those storylines and more, including how the second round for the Rockets in 2018 ended how it couldn’t in 2017 — with another star able to pick up the slack on an off night fromHarden. Tune in:

RECAP: #PlayoffCP3 is real! How playoff career highs from Chris Paul (41/10) and P.J. Tucker (19/6) in Game 5 vs. Utah helped the #Rockets clinch only their second West Finals appearance of the last 21 years, and the first of @CP3's Hall of Fame career:https://t.co/JUGeSw1jss